Hull City critics can 'die as they want' says owner as he seeks Tigers name change

Dr Assem Allam has caused a stir around the KC Stadium with his scheme aimed at generating much needed money for the club

Phar-go: Assem Allam could sell Hull City if fans reject his plans to rename the club

Hull City owner Dr Assem Allam has threatened to turn his back on Hull City if the fans oppose his name change plans.

The mega-rich Egyptian wants them to be called Hull Tigers in a bid raise some much needed money at the KC Stadium.

Allam has pumped tens of millions of pounds into the cash-strapped club to save them from going bust in recent years and insists the re-branding would make it easier to market the outfit around the world.

But his plans have met strong resistance from some fans who have set up a City Till We Die campaign group in opposition to his idea.

And Allam revealed he is ready to walk away if they continue to block his controversial scheme.

Allam told the Independent on Sunday: "I'm a simple man. Do they want me to stay? If it's 'No thank you', fine, in 24 hours the club is for sale, I do not put in one more pound and hopefully things happen quickly.

"I don't mind 'City till we die'. They can die as soon as they want, as long as they leave the club for the majority who just want to watch good football."

He added: "Where were these militant fans when Hull City AFC was dead in December 2010? I made it clear to everybody that I will run the club the only way I know, on sound business policies. That is what I have done, and it is what I will continue to do.

"If the majority of fans are saying now, no, it doesn't work, OK, tell me that and I am off. Not a minority who shout loud, they will not force me out, that would be a Scargill scenario. You remember [Arthur] Scargill? Where is the mining industry now? No."